1
as in occultism
the power to control natural forces through supernatural means
… an alchemy that changed metals rarer than gold into elements more baneful than lead.—
James Gleick
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2
as in magic
the power to do something impressive in a way that seems mysterious or supernatural
They marveled at the digital alchemy that turns lines of computer code into a beautiful user interface.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of alchemy
Building a champion is a work of alchemy, and chemistry matters.
—Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Sliced roast turkey, prosciutto, provolone, mozzarella, sautéed spinach, and roasted peppers perform alchemy on DiGiampietro’s unrivaled baked-on-site sesame roll.
—Adam Erace, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
From the perspective of 2026, Thelma & Louise represents, with its mixture of thematic daring and commercial viability, an alchemy our mainstream movie industry seems to have since largely forgotten.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026
To learn more about the blissful alchemy of Starbucks Oleato™ beverages, visit here today.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alchemy
Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 10 June 2026
Sliced roast turkey, prosciutto, provolone, mozzarella, sautéed spinach, and roasted peppers perform alchemy on DiGiampietro’s unrivaled baked-on-site sesame roll.
—Adam Erace, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026
From the perspective of 2026, Thelma & Louise represents, with its mixture of thematic daring and commercial viability, an alchemy our mainstream movie industry seems to have since largely forgotten.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 27 May 2026
To learn more about the blissful alchemy of Starbucks Oleato™ beverages, visit here today.
—Condé Nast Traveler, 26 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for alchemy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alchemy
Noun
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In one example, some teachers are let into the fictional realm of Agartha, which is a key setting in neo-Nazi occultism where everyone is white and blond.—
Owen Carry,
Wired News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The transformation of Tarocchi into a divinatory tool began in the late 18th century, driven by the rise of occultism in France.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But there was a unique magic to the '90s after-school appointment TV.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
22 June 2026
-
Martha Stewart, who built her hosting empire through best-selling books, television shows, home goods lines and her magazine Martha Stewart Living, said hosts are scaling back without losing the magic.—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
Come to Eternia, the mythical home of flying dragon-like creatures, and swords, and sorcery, and spaceships — really, all the stuff a 12-year-old science fiction fanatic loves.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
4 June 2026
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Directed by Travis Knight and based on the Mattel media franchise, the sword-and-sorcery epic stars Nicholas Galitzine alongside Camila Mendes, Jared Leto, and Idris Elba, launching in over 300 locations on Wednesday June 3.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Starring Vanessa Redgrave and Oliver Reed, the film tells the story of Urbain Grandier, a 17th-century Catholic priest who was burned at the stake over accusations of witchcraft.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
-
Hundreds of true-crime pamphlets circulated, adorned with woodcuts depicting horrific acts of dismemberment, torture, and witchcraft.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 June 2026
Noun
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With some mathematical wizardry, the researchers described a periodic surface whose elements capture discrete components of polarized wavefronts.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
18 June 2026
-
Thank goodness for Zach Abrahams, a young Capetonian chef who started in the sister Whichaway Camp, who’s now performing edible wizardry in Echo’s kitchen.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Alchemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alchemy. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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